Rovco Executes Wave Hub Job

UK-based Rovco has completed a subsea cable survey and inspection for the offshore renewables test site, Wave Hub.

The inspection programme included the first commercial trial of Rovco’s 3D visualisation technology to create scaled, high resolution models of subsea infrastructure with millimetre accuracy.

Rovco also delivered a detailed bathymetric survey utilising a multibeam echosounder (MBES), alongside an ROV video inspection with ultra-short baseline tracking for Wave Hub’s entire offshore cable network, off the coast of Saint Ives Bay, Cornwall.

The project was completed in ten days. The first phase utilised the MTS Xplorer vessel to carry out the MBES survey. The second stage saw the deployment of Rovco’s Sub-Atlantic Mojave ROV equipped with the Sonardyne Nano beacons, its own prototype hi-res camera system, and a fibre optic gyro to gather heading and point references.

The final stage involved the Severn Sea vessel, which was used to complete the ROV visual and 3D survey.

Brian Allen, CEO of Rovco, said: “With underwater 3D visualisation, we are improving the quality of subsea ROV inspections, identifying potential problem areas more effectively and providing a better means of communicating this information.

“We were honoured to support Wave Hub on this project, utilising our now proven 3D modelling technology to provide accurate survey data and provide a clear picture of the subsea environment. There are many applications for ROV 3D visualisation however we expect it to be used most frequently for condition monitoring of subsea assets, as well as for damage, corrosion or decommissioning surveys.”

Julius Besterman, head of engineering and operations at Wave Hub, stated: “Periodic subsea inspection is essential to ensuring that the cable system is well maintained to afford projects with a reliable offshore connection, and we were extremely pleased to allow Rovco to trial their 3D system on our site. The results obtained were superb and enabled a very detailed asset and seabed condition assessment as well as providing valuable information for projects intending to connect at Wave Hub. Rovco has set the benchmark very high for future surveys.”